Once he recovered, he signed with the Los Angeles Rams in the NFL, but once again, suffered an injury and had to sit out for the first seven games. The superstar that he did not become and the man he is today are the subject of a new documentary airing. ", Dupree decries Favre comparison in fraud case, The Turnover Luck Index: Rating every 2022 team, from USC to Rutgers, Kiper's updated NFL mock draft: Who's moving up for a QB? As a sophomore, he rushed for 1,850 yards and 28 touchdowns, making it look easy. Dupree, the film notes early on, earned the respect, and even the awe, of everyone who saw him play, including the deputy sheriff linked to the murders, Cecil Ray Price (in 1967, despite the. That was unfair. Prominent college football coaches turn up in person to speak to Dupree, and intense competition amongst them is expected. In his autobiography, Switzer devoted an entire chapter to Dupree, saying he regretted not getting to know him better. Marcus strove to do better and work that much harder because Reggie couldn't do the thinks Marcus could. The media interprets this as Switzer blaming the loss at the Fiesta Bowl on Dupree. And soon after, Dupree decided to retire. Dupree first met Fairley during his senior season of high school. When I recovered from the anaesthesia after my injury and surgery while with the Breakers, I looked up at my Mom. [10], He scored a touchdown on his first professional possession. The USFL is skeptical of this arrangement, and Duprees agents try to sway them with the illusion that he is being considered by the NFL, despite their rules making it extremely unlikely that they would do so. Marcus dupree was once the biggest name in the future of football. Marcus Dupree was a national star as a freshman running back at theUniversity of Oklahoma in 1982. You really couldn't blame Switzer for putting the cart before this awesome horse even though Dupree had said nothing about returning to OU, where he began this bizarre tale of wanderlust. His friends and teammates are also contacted and bribed into trying to influence Dupree. Hopefully, Ill have a couple of more (movies) coming up pretty soon. But I think that rainbow let me know that she heard the news and shes mighty happy that, finally. Switzer was raked over the coals by critics of the college football system. I signed a contract and I did my job," Dupree said. Dupree said he couldn't quantify how many times he mentored teens at his horse farm, but he says over the roughly two-year period he was paid by the state he also made 20 to 30 appearances working as a liaison for Families First, traveling Mississippi to speak in prisons and schools and recording radio commercials. A missing persons report is filed, and the FBI launches a search for him. I then looked down at my knee and, literally, tore the cast off. He is not sure of his plans at this time, but it is obvious he will not be playing football at U.S.M.. At Oklahoma, its not fun. In his first season at Oklahoma, Dupree didnt get a whole lot of playing time early, but after the Sooners starter 1-2, Dupree got thrown int the mix a little more. On February 12, 1982, Dupree announced he would attend Oklahoma instead of the other finalists, Texas, UCLA, and Southern Miss. However, he is not bothered by the decision, feeling that he accomplished what he set out to do. In October 2021, Dupree's lawyer, J. Matthew Eichelberger, sent a sharply worded letter to White. ", "Marcus Dupree's doc; Howard Stern's most wanted sports guests", "Twenty years after leaving OU,'people still remember me', "PRO FOOTBALL; Dupree Is Taken by Surprise as Rams Let Rusher Go", "EXPLAINER: Favre, other sports figures in welfare fraud case", "Marcus Dupree's documentary; Howard Stern's most wanted sports guests", College and Pro Statistics @ totalfootballstats.com, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Marcus_Dupree&oldid=1140304379. The many coaches attempting to recruit Dupree pursue him intensely, monitoring him and his family and making monetary offers as a means of swaying his choice. In February of 2020, agents from the State Auditor's Office arrested Nancy New, her son Zach New, Davis, retired wrestler Brett DiBiase, agency employee Latimer Smith, and nonprofit accountant Ann. Instead, he decides to visit Southern Mississippi, believing that the staff there would be more amenable to him than they were in Oklahoma. Breakers fans saw him as a local boy made good; the Superdome was packed with large crowds by USFL standards.[10]. However, he would never play another down for the Breakers. There was such a lack of communication. After suffering a concussion in a loss against Texas, he vanished for a week. College recruiters come out in droves to court Dupree; he estimates that several hundred schools attempted to recruit him. "I'm getting lumped in with whatever Brett Favre and the governor had going on. The Incredible Story of the Greatest Football Player You've Never Heard Of - Marcus Dupree I've wanted to tell the story of Marcus Dupree for sometime now. 1n 1985 and 1986, Dupree missed two more years of football with knee injuries he sustained in the USFL. [2], As a sophomore in 1979, he was switched to running back and rushed for 1,850 yards and scored 28 touchdowns. He feels an extra twinge of regret when the 1985 Oklahoma college team goes on to win the national championship.In the present-day, Dupree visits the house that once belonged to his deceased mother, combing through his old trophies and possessions. But Dupree insists he did mentor teens at his 15-acre horse farm in Flora, Mississippi. He also has a grandson. In addition, it changes what Dupree should do. Dupree broke many records in both high school and college. He played in only five games in the 1983 season because of nagging injuries and suffering a concussion against Texas. Marcus Dupree was born on 22 May 1964 in Philadelphia, Mississippi, USA. A highly touted and sought-after college football recruit, he played at Oklahoma, where he was named Football News Freshman of the Year, second-team All-American and Big Eight Conference Newcomer of the Year. He had two 100-yard rushing games. Most of the parents just wanted them to be around me. The following summer, dupree received an icelandic citizenship and as a result his playing time and performance increased with his averages jumping to 11.4 points in 2 He died april 13, 1986, at the age of 42. Marc Connolly from ABC Sports Online, aptly said, For everyMarcus Allen,Barry SandersorEmmitt Smith, theres anAnthony Thompson, aPaul Palmerand aLeShon Johnson, guys who never matched their college success in the NFL. Dupree told ESPN he "was shocked" when he learned that Nancy New, the head of one of the nonprofits, the Mississippi Community Education Center, had pleaded guilty to 13 felony counts of bribery, fraud and racketeering. Some of the unfortunate ones were too small. In his senior year, he eclipsedHerschel Walkers national high school career touchdown record, collecting 36, giving him a total of 81. Make no mistake: Mr. Dupree earned the money he was paid, and he never had any reason to believe the money was being improperly spent by state officials," Eichelberger wrote. An NCAA spokesman said Wednesday that feat is "legally" impossible. Of course, you dont make up that kind of money.. He gained 684 yards on 145 carries with nine touchdowns for a 4.7 yards per carry average. [3] For the fourth game Switzer abandoned his favored wishbone offense and made Dupree the tailback in the I formation to take advantage of his skills. Dupree told Barr he "was shocked" to learn Nancy New, head of one of the non-profits in charge of Families First, pleaded guilty to federal and state bribery and fraud charges earlier this year. He was also the MVP of the Fiesta Bowl, rushing for 239 yards. When Dupree was questioned about his wrestling career, he said,I just like to make people happy. (This program contains audiovisual errors. He died april 13, 1986, at the age of 42. Reginald Paul Dupre (pronounced du-PRAY) was born 1957 in Bourg, Louisiana, to Alida D. Naquin and Reggie Dupre Sr. "I don't appreciate being lumped into something like I took money," Dupree said. What hap, Incredible Sibling Tattoos For 2 Brother And Sister Referen. It resurrected his popularity. Dupree, the top high school prospect in the nation out of Philadelphia High School in the1982 signing class, has long contended Fairley took a large share of Duprees five-year, $6 million contract with the New Orleans Breakers in 1984. I'm passionate about what we did, and for the state to be talking about 'Oh, none of that happened,' yes it did," Dupree said. The Best Marcus Dupree Brother Reggie Died Ideas. What Happened To Marcus Dupree Brother Reggieazusa Pacific University Softball Division. The player maintains that Switzer. However, his relationship with Switzer became increasingly strained. Since then, he has wrestled, worked as a VIP host for a casino group and also made ends meet by driving a truck. Speaking about his injuries, Dupree said:Thats the injury that eventually forced me out of football. Effective 2009 July 1, Reggie Dupre became director of levees for Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana.. At the time of his selection by the Levee Board, Reggie Dupre was a Democratic state senator for District 20 (Houma area), to which he was first elected in a special election in . "I mentored the kids through the horses by having responsibility, cleaning the stalls, and, if you got good with that, I'd let you ride a horse. While he was carrying the ball early in the second half, he suffered a severe knee injury and was taken off on a stretcher. He views old footage of his high school games and visits the field where they took place, becoming emotional about the death of his mother, who passed away in 2004. Speaking about his decision to leave Oklahoma, Dupree said in 2010: I wish (Barry Switzer) would have treated me a little bit better. He has always been willing to offer a second chance. One in this series of sports documentaries presented by ESPN about important people and events from 1979 to 2009.This film is about the tumultuous and misfortune-laden career of football player Marcus Dupree. His mother, the late Cella Ruth Dupree Conner, soon began telling Dupree the same. My dreams were over.. He played for the Breakers for two seasons before a knee injury forced him to leave the game. Bornon May 22, 1964, Marcus Dupree grew up in Philadelphia, Mississippi. Id done what I set out to do.. In an Oklahoma uniform of sorts yet again, this time around Marcus Dupree isnt playing football or gunning for the Heisman trophy. He returned to professional football in 1990, playing in 15 games over two seasons for the Los Angeles Rams before being waived prior to the 1992 season. As a junior, Dupree upped his rushing yards to 2,550 and had 34 touchdowns. According to an audit conducted by White's office, $171,000 in TANF money was used as the down payment toward Dupree's home and surrounding property. Dupree has appeared in regional commercials including Hyundai and was cast in a 2017 feature film, One Mile to You. Dupree was the center of the most heated recruiting frenzy in the history of college football back in 1981. Were all going to have ups and downs. Returning in week 8, he played more often and scored his only NFL touchdown that year. Connelly's Conference USA preview: How will four newcomers fit in? According to an audit conducted by White's office, $171,000 in TANF money was used as the down payment toward Dupree's home and surrounding property. 53. Those who knew Dupree declare that he is possibly the best running back who ever played football. For several days thereafter, his whereabouts are unknown even to his mother. He appeared headed for a long career in the National Football League. We do the wrestling events to see kids cheer and see kids faces smile to it like I did when I was younger.. Many editorial writers around the nation focused in on OU as an example of all that is wrong in college football. Earl Campbell was the only other guy I ever saw who was like thatphysically ready, as a true freshman, to be the best player on a great college team. He is known for being a Football Player. Many label him as the greatest running back to ever play college football. The monthly lease payments for the property totaled $9,500, the audit states. "Neither Mr. Dupree, nor his foundation, will be making any payment in response to your demand. But he decided in Dupree's case that he had done all he could for Marcus. In his senior year, he eclipsed Herschel Walkers national high school career touchdown record when he collected 36, giving him a total of 81. According to a 2019 state audit, Dupree was paid, in part, for "equine assisted learning," which Mississippi's state auditor, Shad White, told ESPN meant "teaching people how to ride horses.". It wasin 1985, Dupree earned the starting position for the season opener against the Arizona Outlaws, during whichhe sufferedthat knee injury that ended his career with the USFL. He also competed in track & field, recording a 4.29 40-yard dash. NFL draft questions for teams in the top 10: Will the Colts trade up? Most of the parents just wanted them to be around me. He receives several injuries and has to be sidelined at several points during the game; even out of condition he manages to set a Fiesta Bowl records for rushed yards, a record which still stands. Where is Michael Oher now, is he still playing football in 2023? Dupree's mother was supporting the family by herself on the salary of a school teacher. My first paycheck was for $42,000. He said his message is simple. Why do the Jacksonville Jaguars say Duval? Others were just a step too slow. Im just living. Since then he reportedly returns to the ring once or twice a year. The game takes place on October 8th, 1983, and Duprees condition takes his toll on him, affecting his performance. The Breakers moved to Portland, Oregon for the 1985 season. [7] Switzer told Dupree, "If you'd have been in shape, you'd have rushed for 400 yards, and we'd have won the game."[9]. Dupree agreed and began working out, losing 100 pounds in just over three months and going back to running a 4.3 40-yard dash. Marcus has had difficulty coping with the fact he cannot play college football until 1985 and has talked of the possibility of playing professional football, Jim Carmody, Southern Mississippis head coach, said in a New York Times article in 1984. In spite of this, Switzer still puts Dupree on the field and he manages to penetrate Arizonas defense, although the effort takes a toll on him physically. Dupree wasn't attending classes at OU and now he's quit school again. He is carried off the field in a stretcher. What ever happened to Marcus Dupree? Despite his numerous successes, tension continues between Dupree and the Oklahoma coaching staff, owing to Duprees perceived laid-back attitude and lack of effort during practice sessions.